seaqueer:

mermaids often romanticise humans, thinking them kind and beautiful, wanting to fall in love with one and be loved in return

selkies dont. selkies know humans, have walked among them, know simply how terrible they are, how theyll steal the coat of a selkie maiden just so theyll have a beautiful wife who cant leave them, how theyll turn on their neighbours, their friends, their families, themselves.

selkies used to walk among humans, but now theyve learnt better.